SIBUR delivers equipment for polypropylene plant in Tobolsk

SAINT-PETERSBURG (SIBUR) -- Custom transit of two distillation towers delivered to Russia for the new polypropylene complex being under construction in Tobolsk has been accomplished.

Total length of each tower is 38 meters, diameter - 4,6 meters and weight - 60 tons. The equipment has been produced in Korea and water-borne delivered over the Indian Ocean and the Suez Channel to Antwerp (Belgium), and then reloaded and delivered to Saint-Petersburg. Now the towers will be sent along the Northern naval path calling at Irtysh.

MRC
MRC Reference

Sibur Holding is the largest Russian petrochemical group.

Shareholders:
Gazprombank (70% minus 1 share);
Gazfond (25% plus 1 share);
5% reserved for option program.

(TradingMarkets) -- GS Engineering & Construction Co. has received a letter of intent from a Thai oil company for an US$80 million deal to expand and run propylene facilities in the country.

Under the deal with an affiliate of Thailand's state-run oil company PTT Public Co., the South Korean builder will work to expand production capacity of propylene facilities in a region located 180 kilometers southeast of Bangkok.

The construction will start next month with its completion slated for August 2012. Once completed, they will produce 100,000 tons of propylene annually. As reported before, (see mrcplast.com from July 22), PTT is already on its way to restructure its business, and the process has been held due to legal issues.

MRC

(RBC-Ukraine) -- In Kalush, Russia's LUKOIL is to launch two JVs to produce chlorine and caustic soda using membrane method and PVC-S.

Total investments into both JVs are going to amount to nearly $350m.

Launch of chlorine and caustic soda production using membrane method is scheduled for September 17, and PVC-S plant is planned to be launched on December 25 this year.

MRC

(ReinforcePlastics) -- Volkswagen (VW) and parts manufacturer MAHLE Filter Systems UK are using a glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (PP) composite from Borealis to produce air intake manifolds used on a variety of VW car models.

The choice of Borealis' XMOD GB306SAF 35% glass fibre reinforced polypropylene makes VW the first automotive OEM to switch from glass reinforced polyamides (PA) to polyproplene for the manufacture of air intake manifolds.

MRCMRC Reference

Borealis. The share in the Russian market in 2008:

polyethylene - 4.1% (including HDPE - 4.7%, LLDPE - 8.7%);
polypropylene - 3.2% (PP-impact - 7.5%).

Annual sales growth in Russia over the last 5 years:
polyethylene - 11%;
polypropylene - 6%.

Leader in polymers processing technologies:
extrusion coating;
cable extrusion;
injection molding.

(prw) -- Blow moulding giant Graham Packaging, which entered the China market in April with its first acquisition there, has set an aggressive target of up to $300m in sales in China and Asia within five years.

The firm seems intent on growing quickly in Asia, though, and more acquisitions and investments are planned to tap into growing consumer markets there and boost sales to between $200m and $300m in five years, with China being the most important market, said Daniel Yu, general manager of Asia for Graham Packaging.

MRC